NASA has successfully completed the primary phase of an experimental communications mission designed to help spacecraft connect through multiple satellite networks. Following the achievement of its core goals, the agency is extending the project to explore new partnerships and demonstrate additional capabilities through April 2027.
Known as the Polylingual Experimental Terminal (PExT), the technology is intended to improve interoperability between different satellite communications systems. By allowing missions to work across multiple networks, PExT could help make future space communications more flexible and resilient.
Testing Multi Network Space Communications
PExT launched on July 23, 2025, aboard York Space Systems' BARD spacecraft. The mission was created to show how wideband communications technology can allow spacecraft to transmit data through both government and commercial relay networks.
Traditionally, spacecraft communications have been tied to a single network. PExT takes a different approach by using the widely adopted Ka-band spectrum, enabling data to move across multiple satellite systems.
